, 1887-12-25

Mabel Vaughan, he soon discovered that
he might as well have remained at South
dore for all the consolation the change
brought him. There could be no oub
about it that he was deeply-nay, miser-
ably-in love, for no other term could be
fifty applied to so ~unpropitious an at
tachment. In London, somehow, the
Vaughans seemed to Tom to be further
away from him, more immeasurably re-
moved from his sphere, so to speak, than
at Southdere. Nevertheless, he made
wild resolves, in frantic moments, to
seek out Col. Vaughan and Mabel at any
cost, and might possibly have done SO
had he known their address. But there
were three Col. Vaughans in the Court
Guide, " and Tom shrank from the neces-
sary inquiries; while in his lucid inter
walls he stoutly and wisely determined to
struggle with and overcome his infatua-
ton.
Nearly two months had elapsed since his
fatal meeting with Jack Brace before Tom
happened to come across that volatile in
dividual again. He naturally felt *
tremely awkward in regard to him, see
ing that Jack had the right 10 say that
he had behaved inhospitably to him at
Southdore. However, he at length met
him accidentally one day, when Jacks
friendly greeting manifested so forgiving
a spirit that Tom ventured, not without
some trepidation, to ask for news of the
Naughans.
Haven't seen the colonel since that
day down at S%outhdore, " answered Jack,
with his jolly laugh.
I'm afraid l offended him somehow"
said Tom, with affected indifference.
''How was that?'' asked Jack.
well, | met him just after l parted
from you that day, and-and he passed
by without taking any notice of me, and
the same evening he and his family sud
denly left Southdorc,' explained Tom,
turning very red in the face.
The deuce he did! And had nothing
occurred between you? By Jove, 1 have
itl' cried Jack suddenly, with u burst of
laughter.
"What is the matter?'' inquired Tom,
in accents of surprise.
depend upon it, the old chap thought
l had blown upon him. 1t struck me he
looked precious queer when we met you;
and it occurred to me afterward, though
/ didn't trouble my head about it, that
he spoke of you as if he thought you were
q swell" said Jack, with increased mer-
riment.
luh L you ltl lllIl Jlen - began
Tom, reddening guilty.
'He turned tail and bolted directly he
saw me nod to you; just as you did, Tom.
Hang it, what does it mean?" cried Jack,
beginning to look knowing.
II thought the colonel had found out
that II began Tom, with in
creasing confusion.
"'Were in ~business?'' interrupted Jack.
''He didn't find it out from me, and I'M
less you told him yourself"-
Il didn't, certainly" interrupted Tom
eagerly, but blushing redder than ever at
Jacks humorous glance.
Sorry 1 scared the old boy, then;
thought it wasn't my fault. l can I'M
derstand what happened. Believing 1
had told you all about himself, and that
you were n swell, the colonel made a bolt
of it rather than face you afterward. l
suppose he had been bouncing n bit, ell?
Military man and all the rest of it?
Hang it, it's us good as a play!" roared
Jack.
But isn't he a military man?'' gasped
Tom.
''Volunteers, that's all; but holiday
time he always comes out strong, and
goes somewhere where he is likely to
meet swells whom he knows in the way
of business, " explained Jack, contempt
uously.
SIN the way of business murmured
Tom.
Eyes; he is n breeches maker
Vaughan & Tomlinson, Lambs Conduit
street"
"That Vaughan!' exclaimed Tom, with
n start.
''IGS; and l say, Tom, I wonder if
he'll say that Boxer in the same sort of
way when he learns who you are?" said
Jack, with n wink.
Tom was so covered with guilty CON
fusion that he naturally could not appre-
ciate the humor of the situation as keenly
as Jack Brace did; but while his friend
was indulging in a fresh burst of laugh
ter Tom suddenly grasped the fact that
this startling revelation had its bright
side. 1t seemed that there had been a
misunderstanding; for, by the light of
Jacks explanation, Tom began to realize
that the Vaughans, on that eyentful
evening, had imagined that they had
been purposely sighted by his omission
to salute them. Vexed as he was by his
own stupidity, Tom experienced n deli
cious thrill of joyous expectation when
he inquired:
"Do you know Mabel Vaughan,
Jack?''
'I've seen her-handsome, isn't she?
Little Walnut is n lucky chap"
"Walnut!' repeated Tom, with CHASTITY
apprehension.
Eyes. He is n decent little chap; the
junior of a firm in the general furnishing
line in Tottenham Court Road, Rosewood;
Teak Sc Walnut. -,
"Well, what about him?" cried Tom
in n choking voice.
Didn't you see it in the paper?"
said Jack, staring ut Tom. He mar
ried Mabel Vaughan last week. LON
don Truth.